Writing instrument



Oct. 22, 1963 A. FEHRENBACH WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 2:5, 1962 INV ENTOR F/nvLon Fehrenbach B rjam,

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,107,654 WRITING INSTRUMENT Anton Fehrenbach, Kenosia Ave., Danbury, Conn. Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 175,050 1 Claim. (Cl. 120-42.12)

This invention relates to a writing instrument and more particularly to a multi-pointed instrument. In the art of lettering and drawing as well as writ-ing in longhand, it is often necessary or `desirable -to employ for art or other work a writing instrument which produces a plu-g rality of lines, that is, produces simultaneously a plurality of coextensive lines spaced from one another. Such, spaced and coextending lines may 'be employed to provide a decorative or aesthetic effect .as in writing and addressing packages and envelopes, in drawings, sketches and the like. Also these instruments are adapted to and may be employed in the preparation of displays and Awriting on greeting cards. The use of such instruments enhances signatures, and it will be seen from the foregoing that the instruments have many uses. It may employ lead, crayons, inks or other like media.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel multipointed writing instrument superior to those known heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel. multi-pointed writing instrument adapted to have the writing means thereof adjustable in spaced relation to one another.

It has been `discovered that the tioregoing can be achieved lby means of |an instrument vformed of at least Itwo writing implements iof elongated form, each having a hand grip portion and at one end appropriate writing means, that is, a writing point. The implements in use are suitably secured together -in xed relation with the lower portions thereof adjacent the `writing means suitably adapted for spatial movement relatively to each other. The movement of the lower portions of the implements toward `and 4away from one another is controlled by means wholly or partially extending around the circumference of the instrument and slida'bly or otherwise mounted for adjustment along the instrument through a portion of its length to vary the spacing between the writing means or points.

It has been lfound to be highly advantageous to vary the distance between points in a multi-pointed writing instrument -to `thereby vary the spacing of the lines produced Aby the instrument in use. This permits `adjustment of shading etects, for example. If desired, the writing implements of the instrument may all be of a single color or, if desired, may be of diierent colors. Moreover, in accordance with .the invention the construction and =ar rangement is such that the writing implements of the instrument may be separated `for use singly instead of together.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read with reference to the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is la plan view of a Writing instrument emlbodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar View illustrating certain implements of the writing instrument in diilerent relative positions;

FIG. 3 is 4a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. l but illustrating a modified form of the instrument.

In the drawing there is shown in the form of FIGS. 1 through 4 la writing instrument comprising by Way of example only a pair of Writing implements, each indicated ice generally at 10. These implements are similar lto ballpoint pens in the form chosen tfor illustration. Bach implement 10 is of elongated ,form and comprises a casing 11 containing an ink cartridge 12 which has -as Ia part thereof a writing means or point 13. The cartridge, of course, projects from the casing :for writing purposes, and the tip portion of the cartridge maybe angled, as shown, for best results.

The casing comprises a tubular part 14 nearest the writing end of the implement and an adjoining -tubul-ar part at the end remote from the point and separable from the part 14. If desired, each ball-point-like writing implement 10 may have the usual means, generally indicated at 16, for retracting the tip of the cartridge with the point 13 :within the casing.

Each tubular part 15 has a attened portion 17, these portions of the parts 15 Ibeing arranged in opposing and abutting relation to one Ianother. In this form of the invention the tubular parts 15 are permanently secured together in the area of the mating portions 17. The lastnamed parts may be secured to one another as by bonding, for example. Each tubular part 14 may be removably supported from the corresponding part 15 as lby having a reduced portion thereof pressed into 'the part 15 in a conventional manner. This penmits'replace-ment of `the ink cartridge 12 when the supply of ink is exhausted.

Also in this tform each tubular part 14 at the end portion thereof nearest the corresponding part 15 may be ilattened, as Iat 18, in the area opposing its neighbor. These flattened surfaces of the last-mentioned tubular parts may abut one another. The end portions Iof the parts 14 which approach the respective writing points may be tapered as at 19.

The casing of each writing implement may be formed in whole or in part of plastic material, 'for example, but it is to be understood that the material from which the tubular part 14 is Iformed is not critical except that it :should be characterized -by relative rigidity, be bendalble to a slight extent and have some lresiliency. Portions of the respective parts 14 may bend to a limited extent so that the points 13 of the implements may be moved spatially from the positions shown in FIG. 2, yfor example, to the positions shown in FIG. 1. This movement of the points of the implements is eiiected through an adjusting member designated generally at which -is circumferentially arranged on the writing instrument and movable along a portion of the length of the instrument. It is not necessary that the adjusting member 20 4completely encircle the writing instrument.

In the form shown, the adjusting member 20 takes the for-m of a slider embodied in a clip which may be formed of metal, for example. The clip may be of C shape, as indicated in FIG. 3, and normally snugly engages the writing implements 10 below the tubular parts 15. Each implement 10 below the part 15 thereof has a lengthwise portion thereof diverging from the corresponding portion of its companion. In the illustrated form, these portions diverge in a direction toward the writing points.

The last-named portions when drawn to'ward one another bring the writing points toward one another, and it is the function of the adjusting member 20 to cooperate with these portions of the writing implements to achieve this movement. Hence when the adjusting member 20 is adjusted from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 1, the writing points are brought toward one -another, but Iwhen the member 20 is adjusted in the opposite direction, the writing points tend to separate, of course, to a limited extent. As shown, the adjusting member 20 may have a spring tongue 21 thereon by which the writing instrument may be clipped to a clothing pocket.

The form of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 5

is similar in some respects to the previously described form. However, in the form of FIG. 5 the Writing implements 22 are not permanently secured together but are held together by a removable cap 23 in the manner shown in full lines in FIG. 5, this being for Writing purposes. When the instrument is not in use the cap is placed over the other ends of the writing implements 22. Here the cap 23 is provided fwith a spring tongue 24 by which the assembled instrument may be clipped to a clothing pocket, the tongue being omitted from the adjusting member 25. The operation of the adjusting member 25 is the same as that of the previously described adjusting member 20, and it will be yappreciated that, when the cap 23 is separated from the Writing implements 22, these implements may be separated from each other for separate use or replacement after the adjusting member has been slidably moved olf the ends of the implements 22.

While only twoforms of the writing instrument have been illustrated in the drawing and described labove, it will be apparent to those versed in the art that tbe writing instrument is susceptible of other forms and that changes may be made in details Without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

What l claim is:

A writing instrument comprising at least two companion writing implements of elongated form in side by side relation, each having at one end thereof a writing point and having adjacent thereto a portion to be manually 30 gripped with its companion for writing, said points being substantially coplanar for double-line Writing, said implements having their upper end portions removably secured together so that each may be separated from its companion and used separately, each implement having a lengthwise portion intermediate the ends thereof diverging from f the length of the instrument, said member being engageable with said diverging portions of the implements when n adjusted in one direction to draw said points toward one another and permitting separation of the points when adjusted in the other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,727,110 Lecroy Sept. 3, 1929 2,314,777 Farrington Mar. 23, 1943 2,449,939 Heyberger Sept. 2l, 1948 2,479,649 Thatcher Aug. 23, 1949 2,865,334 Radznsky Dec. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 35,841 Germany Jan. 7, 1886 971,843 France Aug. 16, 1950 

